I have been staring at my computer screen for the last 20 minutes wondering how it is possible to express my gratitude to the people who have made working at GoodLife as a group exercise instructor for the past 3 years so amazing.
To the hundreds of members I have met, my amazing fellow employees, and the company that treats me like part of a big family, I say thank-you because this July I will be moving to Australia to pursue a masters degree in journalism and I will have to say goodbye.
Where it all began
I began with my BodyPump and BodyCombat training when I was 18 years old in my first year of university. I was looking for a flexible job that would fit in nicely with my hectic class schedule and a place that would understand the very stressful life of a young student. GoodLife was that place.
However, I think my desire to work for this company began when I was 12 years old on my boat out in Stony Lake here in Ontario. I was with my family when we noticed that a boat was stranded and we decided to go over and give them a tow. In this boat was a friendly little girl and her extremely grateful father.
After we had gotten them safely to a dock, my dad asked me, “Do you know who we just towed?” I had no idea. It was Patch and his little girl. He was such a genuine person and my parents only had positive things to say about GoodLife and I thought, that would be such a cool place to work!
Learning the ropes
But I digress. Upon completion of my training, I was immediately welcomed by fellow instructors who taught me the ropes, but the training I received was so far above and beyond the average company. Not only was I taught the basics such as how to use the mic and stereo system, but I was supported with emails asking how my training was going, offers for extra help and team-teaching, and when I got around to filming my video, several instructors who had helped guide me thus far showed up and surprised me with their energy and enthusiasm in full force.
So to all of you, thank-you, thank-you for the training, the subbing, covering for me that time I ended up crying half way through a class after forgetting my choreography (true story!), and most importantly, your friendship.
Thank you to the members
The friends I have made extend beyond those I work with to the people I work for: the wonderful members.
When I first was given a few classes on the schedule, I was excited but petrified. Subbing is one thing, but having your own class is a whole different game; I would now be teaching 4 classes a week, 2 combats, 2 pumps!
Would the members like me? How would I compare to the last instructor? What if I mess up?
My mind was put at ease after my first combat class when Jo-Anne, a participant who has since become a good friend, came up and introduced herself and thanked me for a great class. That little boost of confidence was all I needed and since then the support I have received from the members has only grown. In fact, they even threw me a going-away party, that goes beyond a teacher-student relationship — that is friendship.
I have witnessed some truly remarkable physical and emotional transformations from my members: Jen who has shrunk in half since I first met her, or Denise who has changed her lifestyle to focus on health in order to keep up with her two beautiful little girls. That is inspiration.
But so is GoodLife as a company. I don’t know of another place to work where you can go in feeling sluggish and leave feeling motivated and alive, or another place to work where you genuinely enjoy staff meetings! I knew within the first few weeks of employment at GoodLife that this is much more than a company, it’s a family. When I walk into the gym, it feels like home. I am greeted by Dayna at the front desk, wave hello to the GM Hayley in her office, and chat with several members on my way to the studio – what an environment!
“See you later”
Change in life is always challenging, but my biggest challenge will be leaving my second home, GoodLife Fitness. So thank-you GoodLife for an amazing 3 years, for teaching me how to be myself, for connecting me with some of the greatest people I have ever met, and for giving me the confidence it takes to go out and explore the world. But I hate goodbyes, so let’s just stick to “see you later…”
